Wheel-chair



G. H. AND A. O. MAULDEN.

WHEEL CHAIR.

- APPUCATION FILED JAN. 20. 19|9.v

Patented May 27, 1919.

e. H. AND A. 0. MA'ULDEN] WHEEL CHAIR.

Patented May 27, 1919.

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G. H. AND A. O. MAULDEN.

WHEEL CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 20, 1919.

1,304,790. Patented May 27', 1919.

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attoznuao UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT H. MAULIDEN AND ARTHUR O. MAULDEN, 0F KANNAPOLIS, NORTH CAROLINA.

WHEEL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent. 3 ,Patentd May 2'7, 1919.

Application filed January 20, 1919. Serial No. 272,184.

ated by the hands of the occupant, there be mg a transmission mechanism under the control of the occupant so that the speed and direction of movement can be regulated very easily.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character parts of which can be shifted to permit easy ingress and egress of the user. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and ar-' rangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, the seat portion being removed to show the mechanism thereunder.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line %4, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the frame of the wheel chair the rear portion of which is mounted on a tubular axle 2 through which extends a shaft 3 to the ends of which are secured the rear supporting wheels 4. The usual differential, indicated generally at 5, is provided and has a shaft 6 extending forwardly therefrom. To this shaft are secured several gears 7, 8, and 9 respectively of difierent diameters while a brake wheel 10, preferably tapered, is secured to "the front end portion of the shaft 6 and is sur rounded by'a ring 11 formed with the intermediate portion of a lever 12. This lever is fulcrumed at one end, as shown at 13 while its other end ispivotally connected to one end of the rod 14 extending forwardly to the upper end of a bell crank lever 15. The lower arm of this bell crank lever is yieldingly supported by a spring 16 anda link 17 extends downwardly from this arm to a foot lever 18 adapted to be operated by the left foot of the occupant of the chair. This foot lever'is supported byv a platform 19 supported by and below'the frame 1 in front of a seat 20which is located over the axle 2 and the shafts 3 and 6.

Journaled on the frame 1 and extending,

transversely under the front portion of the seat 20 is a shaft 21 provided with a bevel gear 22 which meshes with another bevel gear 23 at the front end of a shaft extending under the seat and parallel with'the shaft 6. On this shaft 24 is slidably mounted a sleeve 25 on which are arranged gears 26, 27. and 28. These. gears are secured to and rotate with the sleeve and the sleeve is feathered on the shaft 24 so as to be able to slide thereon but to rotate therewith. A lever'29 is connected to the sleeve at one end while the other end of the lever is con nected by a rod 30 to a hand lever 31 arranged on the left side of the frame 1 and adapted to be shifted by the left hand of the occupant of the chair. This lever is provided with any means desired for holding it in any position to which it may be adjusted. One means, in the form of a toothed segment 32 has heen shown in Fig. 2.- By means of this lever 31 the sleeve 25 can be shifted so as to bring any one of the gears thereon to mesh with one of the gears on the shaft 6. Gears, 26, 27 and 28 are of different diameters. The largest gear 26 being movable into mesh with the smallest gear 7 on the shaft 6, while the smallest gear 28 on the sleeve 25 is movable into mesh with the largest gear 9 on the shaft 6. The gears 27 and 8 may be of the same diameter.

A sprocket 33 is secured to one end of the shaft 21 and is connected by a chain 34 to another sprocket 35 secured to a shaft 36 journaled in standards 37. This shaft has cranks 38 provided with grips 39 adapted to be grasped in the hands of the occupant of the chair who can thus rotate the shaft and drive, the vehicle.

The standards 37 are pivotally mounted as at 4:0 and have braces 41 which are-pivotally connected to the standards, these braces being formed at the ends of a cross.

rod 42. Latches 43 detachably engage the cross rod 42 and serve to hold the braces against movement and likewise fasten the standards 37 in upright positions.

lrVhile the standards are thus secured the cranks 38 can be conveniently operated. However, when it is desired to enter or leave the vehicle, especially when the vehicle is used'by a cripple, it is desirable to unfasten the cross rod 42by disengagingthe latches i3therefrom. The standards 37 can thus be free to swing downwardly and rear. wardly out of the Way or, by detaching the chain 3%, they can be swung downwardly and forwardly. The user can thus readily enter or leave the vehicle after which the parts can be rearranged.

The front end of the vehicle is supported by a singlesteering wheel 4-1 mounted in a fork 45 having a stem 46 extending through the frontendof the frame and provided with suitable bearings as shown. An arm 47 is connectedto the stem and extends laterally therefrom. One end of this arm is connected'by a rod4l8 to the upper arm 49 of a bell crank lever. this lever has a foot plate 50 thereon so that by pressing downwardly with the right foot, the operator can turn the wheel lttoward the-right while by pressing forwardly with the toe portion of the foo.t,,the said Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by. addressing the The lower arm of,

wheel 4% can be turned to the left. Thus the operator can readily steer the wheel chair while driving it by means of the cranks 38. Alsoby manipulating the foot lever 18 and the lever 31, the movement of the wheel chair can be controlled readily.

While the vehicle has been shown with mechanism for driving it by hand, it is to be understood that, if preferred, a motor can be suitably located thereon and the hand driven mechanism used only in case of an emergency.

What is claimed is:

A wheel chair including a frame, front and rear supporting wheels, a seat upon the rear portion of the frame, power transmitting mechanism under the seat and coupled to the rear wheels standards pivotally connectedto the sides of the frames and in front of the seat, a crank shaft journaled in the standards and adapted to be rotated by hand by the occupant of the seat, means for transmitting motion from the crank shaft to the power transmitting mechanism, braces pivotally connected to the standards, a cross rod connecting the braces, and means for engaging the cross rod to hold the standards against swinging movement.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we, have hereto afiiXed our signatures in the, presence of two witnesses.

hi GILBERT H. MAULDEN. ARTHUR o. MAULDEN.

Witnesses:

C. O. STONESTREET, W. A, HnRsHMAN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

